Broughton Quarterly - Winter 2007 - (Page 23)

between the Computer Motion and InTouch years, though he calls that “one of my big regrets.” Wang kept robots on his brain, though the development of the Remote Presence model wasn’t immediately obvious. “The concept of combining robotics with telecommunication to project a human’s perception and dexterity to a remote location—that was in my head, and that’s the basis of this company,” explained Wang. “But exactly how you do that and for what reason was not.” Enter the Remote Presence robot, whose current incarnation is known simply as the RP-7. These new robots are walking (well, rolling), talking, seeing, and hearing machines with a full-color video screen and mounted camera, allowing doctors to visit their hospitalized patients whenever they need to from the ease of their home or office. Although hospitals are purchasing the robots for many reasons—there are about 130 out in the field, nationally and internationally—Wang’s colleague and InTouch’s spokesman Tim Wright explained, “Generally, it’s about making physicians more readily accessible so they can see their patients more frequently.” The most common benefit is an earlier discharge from the hospital, as physicians can check out their patients via the robot in the morning rather than waiting until the afternoon for an inperson visit. Earlier discharges, in turn, are good for patients (they can go home), good for doctors (they needn’t physically come to the hospital), and good for hospitals (because, for instance, in the case of New Jersey’s Hackensack Hospital, they can open 25 more beds every morning, which amounts to $9 million annually). ”The bottom line,” said Wright, “is that many hospitals know anytime they can get a discharge order before 11 a.m., they can schedule surgery for the afternoon and book that bed. If the discharge is not by noon, it’s too late to adjust the bed schedule. That’s a big loss for the hospital.” It’s all about saving money and time, and making doctors and patients happy. Maybe robots aren’t yet part of every home and aren’t taking care of our children, but the RP-7 does represent a possible solution to the looming healthcare crisis, with baby boomers getting older, doctors in short supply, and hospitals going broke. So does that mean that there is still hope for a robotic future? “I think the promise of robotics is huge,” said Wang. “What’s happening is that robots are slowly but surely moving more and more into roles where they interact with people on a daily basis.” Will he turn his genius mind toward a C-3PO one day? “I have several ideas for the home consumer,” promised Wang, “and hopefully someday I’ll be able to pursue them. I just have no time Q now.” www.BroughtonQuarterly.com 23 http://www.BroughtonQuarterly.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Broughton Quarterly - Winter 2007

Broughton Quarterly - Winter 2007 Contents Contributors Plugged In Notes Calendar 1000Words Destination Wine & Cuisine Introducing Doctor Robot In the Desert Stillness Richard Branson Marketplace Spotlight

Broughton Quarterly - Winter 2007

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